From nature discovery to learning basketball, golf and music skills, Westchester County Parks offers summer camps and programs for children of all ages and interests. Westchester’s Summer Ecology Camps include:

The award-winning Children’s Summer Ecology Program
This camp introduces children in grades 1 through 6 to the natural world through hands-on activities, wildlife study and everyday science. The program is conducted by experienced naturalists, environmental educators and teachers at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains; Croton Point Nature Center in Croton-on-Hudson; Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers; Marshlands Conservancy in Rye; Trailside Nature Museum in Cross River; and Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers. At Lenoir Preserve there is also a Discoverers program for kindergarteners, ages 4 and 5. Camp is held Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in six consecutive one-week sessions, beginning July 7. The fee is $225 per session.

The Conservationists in  Training Program
Youngsters entering grades 7, 8 and 9 can learn outdoor skills that run the gamut from radio-tracking wood turtles to map reading during the Conservationists in Training program offered at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains and the Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River. The program is held Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in three, two-week sessions, beginning July 7. The fee is $700 for each session.

Marine Biology and Conservation
This camp is for students entering grades 10, 11 and 12, focuses on the ecology, biology and conservation issues of our local marine ecosystems. Using Long Island Sound as a “laboratory,” campers will assist in a real species conservation study or project. Seining, snorkeling and water testing are some typical activities.

Other traditional camps include:

Camp Playland
Conducted at the 279-acre Playland Amusement Park in Rye, Camp Playland offers children ages 7 through 12 a variety of traditional camp activities, along with some that are unique to Playland. Swimming, arts and crafts, ice skating lessons at the Ice Casino, mini golf, pedal boating and amusement park rides are typical activities. The camp runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (late pick-up at 5:30 is available) daily in six one-week sessions, beginning July 21. The fee is $325 per week, with discounts available for siblings, additional weeks and for Westchester County Park Pass holders.

“Hole-in-One” Junior Golf Camp
Aspiring duffers ages 10 through 17 can have fun as they learn the fundamentals of golf and hone their skills during the “Hole-in-One” Junior Golf Camp offered at the six county golf courses: Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake in Yonkers; Hudson Hills in Ossining; Maple Moor in White Plains; Mohansic in Yorktown Heights; and Saxon Woods in Scarsdale. Taught by top Professional Golf Association pros, the program gives participants instruction in all aspects of the game to help develop skill and confidence. Fee for each session is $40.

The Slam Dunk Basketball Camp
This sports camp offers young people an opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills at the Westchester County Center. “Little Hoopers” for ages 5 to 7 runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a fee of $175 per one-week session. Campers ages 8 through 14 attend from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily for a fee of $275 per session. The four, one-week sessions begin Monday, July 7.

Music instruction program
The Westchester Summer Music Center at the Westchester County Center in White Plains is a six-week music instruction program for young people in grades 3 through 12, providing daily class instruction in band and orchestral instruments, as well as keyboard, guitar and recorder. A supervised recreation program is provided for students when they are not scheduled for classes. The six-week program runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily, June 30 through August 8. Students must supply their own instruments and purchase their textbooks. Tuition is $525 for Westchester resident participants registering before May 23; $575 thereafter. For more information including out-of-county tuition, or to receive an application by mail, call (914) 864-7173.

All programs are sponsored by Westchester County Parks and are open to everyone. For more information and for applications for all summer camps, visit Westchester County online or call (914) 864-7000.